We run transformative small cohort programs that serve as powerful first-contact experiences with climate action for young people across Toronto—especially those underrepresented in climate spaces.
Our research-backed model creates accessible, relevant entry points where curious young people can explore and activate their unique contributions to climate solutions.
Through intensive small group experiences, participants discover their essential role in the climate movement while building the individual capacity and community connections that amplify their impact.
These experiences expand what climate activism looks like by centering the diverse perspectives, skills, and wisdom that young people bring to the movement.
Pilot Year: Building Together
Our first year is all about experimentation, collaboration, and laying the groundwork for lasting impact. Through our pilot initiatives, we’re testing models that bring youth, educators, and communities together in meaningful climate action.
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The Climate Hub Catalyst Internship Program is under development by the University of Toronto Climate Hub in partnership with the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS). Designed for a small, interdisciplinary cohort of graduate students, the program will support community-based research projects focused on climate action that bridge academia and action. Through workshops on research design, development, and knowledge mobilization, graduate students also receive training and exposure to diverse approaches in climate research.
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We’re launching and evaluating a pilot mentorship program connecting BIPoC post-secondary youth mentors and high school students through hands-on climate education. This program bridges experience with curiosity, creating space for shared learning and leadership development.
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We’re creating an ambassador program that embeds climate action in everyday campus and community life. Designed for students new to climate engagement, this initiative fosters grassroots climate leadership that grows from daily practice.
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We’re fostering collaboration between youth, faculty, staff, and policymakers to co-design climate programming that’s responsive to youth needs and attentive to mental health. This ensures that climate action feels not only urgent but also sustainable and supportive.
THE PLEIADES
For centuries, the Pleiades constellation has guided travelers across cultures and continents: a cluster of stars used for navigation, storytelling, and connection. We chose this symbol because it reflects our mission to empower youth as guiding stars in the climate movement. No single star makes a constellation; together, their light creates direction. In the same way, the Climate Hub brings young people into cohorts and communities where each voice, skill, and perspective contributes to collective action.
The Pleiades also represent intergenerational continuity. Family, growth, and resilience are all values that ground our work. Our programs respond directly to what research tells us youth need: belonging, mentorship, and hands-on pathways into climate action. Youth shine brightest when they are seen, supported, and connected with others who share their goals and vision for a better future, and the Hub is where that sparking happens. Like the Pleiades, we are brighter together, charting new routes toward equity, hope, and a sustainable future.
